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	What We Do Assessments Monitoring and Evaluation DCHA/DG Activities, October 2009 (862kb)
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GOVERNING JUSTLY AND DEMOCRATICALLY (GJD)
Summary of FY 2009 Request

Overview

• The United States supports governing justly and democratically (GJD) for three primary reasons. First, we support GJD as a matter of principle – our political system and national identity are built on the belief that all people share fundamental rights. Second, democracy promotion is central to our national security and the War on Terror, as outlined in the President’s Freedom Agenda and the National Security Strategy. Failed or authoritarian states pose a longterm threat to the security of the United States. Finally, U.S. support for GJD is grounded in our broader development agenda. Functioning, democratic states directly contribute to sustainable development, economic growth, and the provision of crucial services (e.g., health care and education).
• The FY 2009 request of $1.72 billion for GJD represents the largest request for democracy promotion ever.
• GJD programs would increase by $343 million or 25% over the current FY 2008 estimate and by $565 million or 49% over latest FY 2007 actuals.
• Factoring out funding for Iraq and Afghanistan there is an increase of $110 million or just under 10%. As a comparison, the overall Foreign Assistance request factoring out Afghanistan and Iraq increased by 1.1%
• FY 2008 levels in the CBJ are estimates and are subject to change pending final approval of Congressional Notifications and Operating Plans.

GJD Objectives:

US foreign assistance will support:

1. The President's Freedom Agenda to end tyranny, the National Security Strategy's goal of promoting democracy; and
   
   
2. The Secretary of State's vision of Transformational Diplomacy by promoting and strengthening effective democracies in recipient countries and helping them advance along a continuum toward consolidation and sustainable partnership.

• Reduce the number of Authoritarian states that do not allow meaningful political competition
• Increase the number of democracies and improve the quality of their governance

Highlights/Issues

• This budget request will fully fund the new $100M African Democratic Governance Initiative in order to build on and go beyond the great successes in fighting HIV/AIDS and Malaria by ensuring that every citizen in Africa has a voice in their government and the right to choose their own leaders.

• This budget request is carefully targeted – over 75% of the money will go to countries identified by the White House, the State Department and USAID as priority countries that either are authoritarian states or are fragile democracies.

• This budget request directly supports the national security of the United States by fully funding the elections in Afghanistan, building government capacity in Iraq in response to improved security, and by supporting a genuine transition to civilian rule in Pakistan while building up the capacity to govern in the volatile frontier region.

• Funding would support democratic activists in some the world’s most repressive regimes in countries like Burma, Belarus, Cuba and Zimbabwe.

Download PDF version (Revised 12/08)

Overview of Foreign Assistance Funding by Objective

Breakdown of GJD Funding by Area

Breakdown of GJD Funding by Region

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